A warm welcome awaits you at the Punta Cana airport upon arrival. Outside the terminal, a driver with a name sign will meet you and drive you to the historic town of Santo Domingo. The rest of the day is at your leisure to explore the oldest city in the New World. Your transfer to the old town is included if you land in Santo Domingo.

Driving Distance: 190 kilometers or 118 miles, to Santo Domingo

After breakfast, your guide will pick you up at the hotel reception at 10:00 am. Today, you will learn about the history of the first European city in North America. This location saw the construction of the first cathedral in the New World, the residence of the first governor, the installation of the first bishop, and the opening of the first hospital. This bustling city of over a million people has many cultural, particularly architectural, attractions to offer that you won't find anywhere else on the island of Hispaniola. You will spend the day in the historic old town, the so-called Zona Colonial, designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The tour includes palaces, forts, museums, churches, and squares. You will walk through Calle de las Damas, the first street paved in Santo Domingo for the ladies of the Spanish nobility to stroll, and the pedestrian street El Conde, with its many stores and street vendors as well as bars and restaurants.

One of the most popular Dominican dishes will be served to you for lunch after the city walks. For all Dominicans, Sancocho stew is the signature dish of their cuisine. In addition to various meats, the dish combines a variety of local Caribbean ingredients, such as yam, musk gourd, cassava, and plantains, which give the stew its characteristic flavor and make it a dish as rich as Dominican culture. Rice and avocado are served as side dishes. You will be escorted back to the hotel after lunch, and you can use the afternoon to relax or stroll around the city.

In the evening, you will be picked up at the hotel at 6:00 pm to experience an outdoor concert of a unique kind. Every weekend, the group Bonyé plays in the magical setting of the San Francisco ruins. The group of about 20 people, with singers and various instruments, plays merengue, son, and jazz. Dominicans of all ages go to the concerts, where they joyfully dance, listen to music, and celebrate. Visitors from Europe, in particular, are usually enthralled by the happiness of the people there and quickly get swept away by the ambiance.
 

On this excursion, you will see Santo Domingo from a different perspective on this particular day. Off the beaten tourist track, you will see the lives of the less privileged population and contribute a small part to improving their circumstances. 

After breakfast and check-out, your driver will pick you up at the hotel at 9:00 am and deposit your luggage in the vehicle. Then, you will drive to one of the most precarious neighborhoods in the Dominican Republic, Gualey. The neighborhood is located on the west bank of the Ozama River, north of the old town. Here, you will visit the non-profit foundation Rincón de Luz. For more than eighteen years, the foundation has worked with children, youth, and seniors from socially disadvantaged backgrounds in areas such as education, nutrition, and health. Children from preschool age to the beginning of middle school receive schooling and participate in lunch. At the foundation, you will hand over a food donation (included in the price of the excursion, which will be provided for you in advance). The founder and president, Leyda Alvarez, will give you a tour of the premises and present her work. You will also have the opportunity to interact with the school children. Afterward, you will get a guided tour through Gualey. You will get an impression of the living conditions in one of the poorest neighborhoods in the Dominican Republic. You will visit four small lakes called pozos, which are fed by natural springs and are popular with residents. One of the pozos has recently been used as a breeding pool for ornamental and food fish. Drinks are available during the walk from local corner stores called Colmados.

After the end of the tour, you will head to the cable car station of Gualey. You will board the cable car, from which you will enjoy a spectacular view. You will cross the Ozama River, pass through the Tres Brazos and Sabana Perdida stations to the Charles de Gaulle terminus north of Santo Domingo, and then return to your starting point. During the tour, you will gain a new perspective on the city and get an impression of the different living conditions. From the gondola, you will have numerous opportunities for spectacular photos. A quarter of the price of the excursion will be donated to the Foundation in the form of a food donation, which you will hand over on the day of the excursion.

From there, the journey heads north. You will drive to Jarabacoa on the oldest highway in the Dominican Republic. The route leads through rural areas characterized by intensive agriculture. On the way, you will stop at the Reposteria Miguelina. The excursion in the restaurant offers traditional dishes and renowned desserts for participants to enjoy. In La Vega, you will leave the highway. Here begins the mountain world of the Cordillera Central, also known as the Dominican Alps, where many locals spend their summer vacations due to the excellent climate. The small town of Jarabacoa is located 600 meters above sea level and surrounded by pine forests, rivers, mountains, and valleys. Spring-like temperatures prevail here all year round. The climatic health resort is the center for hiking enthusiasts and nature lovers.

Note that participants will cover the cost of the restaurant excursion.

After breakfast, you will visit the Monte Alto coffee factory, where you will learn everything about the cultivation and processing of coffee. Of course, there will also be a coffee tasting. Afterward, take a walk through the mountains of the Dominican Republic to one of the famous waterfalls in the region. Enjoy the impressive view and landscape, and immerse yourself in the unique nature with endemic flora and fauna.

Afterward, the journey continues to Santiago de los Caballeros. Here, you will visit one of the most renowned cigar factories in the Dominican Republic, La Aurora, where you will learn all about tobacco processing. You will have the opportunity to see the workers in action as they expertly assemble the highly sought-after tobacco products by hand. After the tour, the driver will take you to the hotel. Use the afternoon to relax or take a short walk around town.

After breakfast, the journey continues in the direction of Samaná. After driving through a fertile valley, you will reach San Francisco de Macorís. You will visit the Sendero del Cacao, surrounded by enormous jungle trees. From here, you will have the unique opportunity to learn everything about the coveted fruit of the cacao tree. From the cultivation of the cacao bean to chocolate processing at the Hacienda La Esmeralda cacao plantation, which supplies world-renowned chocolate factories, cocoa and chocolate tastings are also part of the program. Throughout the tour, lunch will be served.

From here, the tour continues via Nagua to Samaná. The peninsula of Samaná is 63 km long and 10 to 20 km wide. It is a tropical paradise with secluded beaches, clear mountain rivers, and cliffs. Las Terrenas is the bustling center on the north coast of the peninsula. Here, you will experience authentic island flair and feel the magic of the Caribbean.

Let your soul drift away on this peninsula's stunning and unique sand beaches. You will get a taste of authentic Caribbean life here. Palm trees swayed in the gentle wind, refreshing cocktails and freshly prepared seafood, and enjoying the music of merengue and bachata. Take optional excursions or relax in the Caribbean atmosphere!

After breakfast, enjoy your last sight of the beach before going to Punta Cana airport to catch your flight back home or extend your stay at the Bayahibe or Punta Cana beaches.

Note: If you are interested in extending to Bayahibe or Punta Cana, please contact your Trip Planner.